GOING DOWN TO THE WIRE
Clippers hang on to hand Shea first defeat
CUMBERLAND – It was Cumberland High’s defense to the rescue on Friday night.
The unit came up with three noteworthy plays over the game’s final six minutes to save the day and emerge with a 20-14 win over previously unbeaten Shea High in a Division I-A contest at Tucker Field. The outcome leaves both clubs at 2-1 in league play.
The game was still very much in doubt heading into the final minute but momentum appeared to be in the Shea camp after a deflected pass by one Raider (Travaughn Famo- gun) landed in the hands of his teammate (Daevon Smith). The Clippers were assessed a personal foul that gave the Raiders first-and-10 from CHS 20-yard line with 1:30 left.
Shea quarterback Eric Palmer found an open Giovanie Delgado in the right flat for an 11-yard line, setting up a first-and-goal scenario with one minute remaining. After Palmer spiked the ball to stop the clock, he misfired on second down. It was on third down where the Clippers’ Kaream Sangare came up with a sack that resulted in a nine-yard loss.
Down to its final play and with the clock running, Palmer on fourth down looked left and lofted a ball that was knocked away by Cumberland’s X’vaier Johnson. Once again, the Clippers were able to come away unscathed. Earlier in the fourth quarter, Cumberland’s Shane Meerbot came up with an interception in the end zone after the Raiders advanced the ball to the CHS 23-yard line.
Cumberland’s defense ended up intercepting Palmer twice.
“The defense was prepared,” said Cumberland coach Josh Lima. “That’s a high-powered offense and really good football team. To hold them to 14 points is a really a credit to the defense. They did a great job.”
Offensively, Cumberland’s three scores came from senior quarterback Joe Leonard. Three times, he found the end zone from one yard out. Shea’s two touchdowns came from junior running back Jaylen Smith.
Two mistakes on special teams by the Raiders enabled the Clippers to enjoy a 20-7 lead at halftime. The first Shea slipup came on the opening kickoff as CHS junior Dante Aviles-Santos fielded it at about the 20-
yard line and brought it all the way out to the Raider 29yard line.
Despite the excellent field position, it took a while before the Clippers found the end zone. A heavy diet of Jack Andrews – he carried the ball six straight times – eventually gave way to Leonard, who called his own number from one yard out.
Shea’s other mistake in the first half also proved costly. A bad snap on a punt attempt was swallowed up deep within Raider territory with the home team getting the ball at the Shea six with 5:36 left in the second quarter. The 7-6 deficit facing the home team didn’t last long – a fiveyard run by Andrews was followed by Leonard once again throwing his body into the fray. Leonard’s second touchdown of the opening half put the Clippers up 13-7.
The Raiders went threeand-out three times during the first half. The third and final instance paved the way for a quick strike by the Clippers. Andrews found daylight along the near sideline for a 65 yard gain that saw the Raiders finally bring down the senior at the Shea 2. Leonard once again took care of the rest. After getting stopped short of the goal line on first down, the quarterback fought his way for his third score of the contest. Andrews
made his second point-after try to put the Clippers up 13 points with 3:27 left in the second quarter.
Cumberland’s defense concluded the opening half allowing 22 yards over the final eight plays that Shea ran off. Cumberland senior defensive lineman Reuben Hancock showed off his power on a fourth-down try that led to sack of Palmer.
Shea’s big-play ability was on full display when Palmer hit senior Famogun over the middle for a 30yard catch-and-run on thirdand-14. The very next play, Smith kicked it to the right side for a 30-yard score that was followed by an extra point by Dominic Majkut. The four-play scoring drive came with three of the plays coming at the start of the second quarter.
The first series of the second half featured a steady diet of Smith, who ran off right tackle for an 11-yard score that brought the Raiders to within six (20-14).
“Cumberland played awesome, but I thought they wanted the game more than us tonight,” said Shea head coach Dino Campopiano. “We came out and played much better in the second half, but when you play good teams, you have to play four quarters. You can’t play two quarters.”